Battery grid casting and trimming machine

ABSTRACT

A battery grid casting machine of the type wherein the movable mold section is disposed in a generally horizontal plane when the mold is opened so that the grid is ejected therefrom in a generally horizontal position. The machine includes a grid transfer mechanism having a pallet which is disposed horizontally directly below the open mold section to receive the ejected grid and which is then lowered and swung forwardly in an arcuate manner to a position adjacent a grid trimming mechanism. In the latter position the pallet is inclined forwardly and downwardly and retractable stop means are associated with the pallet for properly aligning the grid for entry into the grid trimming mechanism.

United States @atent [191 Rader BATTERY GRID CASTING AND TRIMMING 1 MACHINE [451 Apr. 16, 1974 rlf i r r tami fhq l. W smf d A tt orneyfAgent, or Firm-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [57] ABSTRACT A battery grid casting machine of the type wherein the movable mold section is disposed in a generally horizontal plane when the mold is opened so that the grid is ejected therefrom in a generally horizontal position. The machine includes a grid transfer mechanism having a pallet which is disposed horizontally directly below the open mold section to receive the ejected grid and which is then lowered and swung forwardly in an arcuate manner to a position adjacent a grid trim- [75] Inventor: Robert R. Rader, Port Huron, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Wirtz Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Port Huron, Mich.

[22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 327,308

[52] U.S. Cl. 29/2, 83/903 [51] Int. Cl, B23p 13/00 [58] Field of Search 29/2, 33 C; 83/903 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,030 8/1962 Winkel 83/903 X ming mechanism. In the latter position the pallet is inclined forwardly and downwardly and retractable stop means are associated with the pallet for properly aligning the grid for entry into the grid trimming mechanism.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 SHEEI 1 BF 5 PATENTEDAPR 1s 19?:

SHEET 0F 5 PATENTEDAPR 15 m4 SHEEI 5 OF 5 F'IG.5

BATTERY GRID CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE This invention relates to a battery grid casting machine and, more particularly, to an improved device for transferring a battery grid ejected from the mold of the machine to a grid trimming station.

It is conventional in automated battery grid casting machines to provide means for trimming the grid to size substantially immediately after it is ejected from the mold. With such machines it is important to handle the grid carefully as it is ejected from the mold because it is still relatively warm and therefore fragile and readily distortable. In machines of the type where the mold sections open by shifting one of the mold sections in a straight horizontal path the grid is normally ejected from the mold while in a vertically disposed position and iscaused to slide by gravity downwardly on a curved track so that it assumes a generally horizontal position after which it is conveyed by suitable means into a grid trimming mechanism.

Under some circumstances it is desirable to design the grid casting machine so that the mold is opened in a manner such that the grid is ejected while it is disposed in a generally horizontal plane. With such machines it is desirable to deposit the grid gently on a horizontal supporting surface disposed below and in close proximity to the horizontally disposed mold face from which the grid is ejected. It then becomes necessary to transfer the grid from a position directly below and adjacent the open mold section to a grid trimming mechanism while orienting the grid properly in relation to the grid trimming mechanism.

The present invention relates to a battery grid casting machine of the lattertype and has for its principal object the provision of a grid transfer mechanism utilizing a grid transfer pallet and means for moving the grid transfer pallet from a grid receiving position wherein the pallet is disposed'in a generally horizontal-plane'directly below and in close proximity to the horizontally disposed surface of the mold section from which the grid is ejected to a position adjacent a grid trimming mechanism while orienting and-aligning the grid for proper entry into the grid trimming mechanism.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a battery grid casting machine employing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is atop elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the grid transfer mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is afragmentary end elevational view of a portion of the grid transfer mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary. top elevational view of the grid transfer pallet and a portion of the elements associated therewith.

Referring to FIG. 1, the battery grid casting machine comprises a frame having a pair of upright side support plates which are suitably interconnected by means (not illustrated). The grid casting mold is generally des ignated l2 and includes a mold section 14 fixedly supported on the machine and amovablemold section 16. Mold section 16 is pivotally supported as at 18 on a horizontal slide 20 which is guided for movement in a forward and rearward direction. In FIG. 1 mold section 16 is shown in the closed position, the parting line between the two mold sections being designated 22, and slide 20 is in the retracted or rearward position. Slide 20 is adapted to be actuated through a predetermined stroke by means of a hydraulic cylinder 24 connected to a linkage 26 secured to slide 20 at the pivot 28. A pair of control arms 30 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of movable mold section 16 by yokes 32 at their forward ends engaging outwardly extending pivot studs 34 on mold section 16. A latch 36 is associated with each yoke 32 to permit disengagement of the yokes with the pivot studs 34. The opposite or rear ends of control arms 30 have a sliding pivot connection 38 in blocks 40 fixed on the top side of the machine frame. When cylinder 24 is actuated to shift slide 20 forwardly, the pivot connections 38 are free to move to the forward ends of slots 42 in blocks 40.

With the arrangement thus far described, when it is desired to open the mold, cylinder 24 is actuated to shift slide 20 forwardly. This causes the support arms 30 to initially shift forwardly and after the pivot connections 38 engage the forward ends of slots 42 movable mold section 16 pivots about studs 34 to the position indicated in broken lines 16a in FIG. 1 wherein the parting face 22 faces downwardly and is disposed in a generally horizontal plane. At one side of the machine (the near side as viewed in FIG. I) slide 20 is connected to mold section 16 at the horizontal pivot axis by a pivoted bracket 44. At the opposite side of the machine the pivot connection 18 is located on a hinge member 46 (FIG. 2) which enables movable mold section 16 to swing in a horizontal plane about a vertical hinge axis 48 to the broken line position designated 16b. When mold section 16 is swung horizontally to the position 16b it is supported vertically to a large extent by a heavy pivoted support arm 49. Swinging mold section 16 in this manner facilitates corking or otherwise servicing the two mold sections. When it is desired to so service the mold sections latches 36 on control arms 30 are disconnected from studs 34. Cylinder 24 is then actuated to shift mold section 16 forwardly while it remains in a vertically disposed position. After mold section 16 is so shifted in a forward direction arm 49 is swung to a position underlying and supporting mold section 16 and pivot bracket 44 is released to enable mold section 16 to be swung horizontally about the vertical hinge axis 48 to the broken line position designated 16b in FIG. 1. The arrangement thus far described is presented to afford a better understanding of the unique and desirable features of the grid transfer mechanism of the present invention.

The grid casting machine includes a grid trimming mechanism 50. Grid tn'mming mechanism 50 can be any of various types. In the specific arrangement shown this mechanism includes a pair of grid trimming saws 52 for trimming the opposite edges of the grid (the front and rear edges of the grid relative to the path of travel). Grid trimming mechanism 50 includes a suitable support 54 which is inclined downwardly and forwardly as viewed in FIG. I and on which the grid is positioned when it is trimmed by saws 52. It will be observed that support 54 is disposed forwardly of and below movable mold section 16 when the latter is in the mold ejecting position designated 16a in FIG. 1. Accordingly, when a grid is ejected from the mold section 16 it is necessary to transport or transfer the grid from the mold position 16a to the grid trimming mechanism 50; The grid transfer mechanism according to the present invention includes a flat transfer pallet 56 together with a means for shifting the pallet between the solid line positionshown in FIG. 1 and the broken line position 560. Generally speaking, this mechanism includes a weldment 58' best illustrated in FIG. 4. weldment 58 is in the form of a generally rectangular frame which includes a pivot shaft 60 joumalled for pivotal movement in bearings 62 on side plates of the machine. A pair of upright support arms 64 are fixed to shaft 60 and their upper ends are rigidly interconnected by a support bar66. A pair of upright gibs 68, 70 are fixedly mounted on' support bar 66 and are interconnected in spaced relation by spacer blocks 72 and screws 74. A slide 76 is guided for vertical movement between gibs 68, 70. The means for raising and lowering slide 76 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 78 mounted on gib 68 and having its piston rod connected to slide 76 by a bracket 80. V A pivot shaft 82 extends transversely through the upper end of slide 76. Transfer pallet 56 is pivotally supported on shaft 82 by a plurality of four bearing blocks 84 fixedly mounted on the underside of transfer pallet 56. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, an angled bracket 86 is connected to the upper end of slide 76 by screws 88. Bracket 86 forms a rest pad for limiting pivotal rotation of transfer pallet 56 relative to slide 76 to the position shown in solid lines. The transfer pallet 56 is adapted to be swung in an arcuate manner about the pivot axis of shaft 60 by a hydraulic cylinder 90 pivotally supported at one end on the machine as at 92 and having its piston rod 94 connected by a clevis 96 to weldment 58 (FIG. 4 as'at 98. In FIGS. 1 and 3 piston rod 94 is shown in the extended position wherein pallet 56 is disposed in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position generally in alignment with the support 54 of trim mechanism so that the grid positioned thereon is v-adaptedtto be fed between the feed rolls 100, 102 which are arranged on the inlet side of the trim mechanism 50. Feed roll 100 is rotated by a suitable drive 104 while feed'roll 102 isdriven by roll 100.

' I The grid transfer mechanism also includes a'grid stop bar 106 located along the forward edge of pallet 56. Stop bar 106 is mounted as by screws 108 on the forward ends of a pair of links 110 pivotally supported on shaft 82 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The two links 110are interconnected by a cross bar 112. Stopbar l06normally assumes the position shown in FIG. 1 by reason of gravity. Cross bar 112 is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a push rod 114 extending upwardly on weldment 58 through a guide 116 mounted on gib 70. The lower'end of push rod 114 is pivotally connected to an arm 118 fixed to one end of a shaft 120 pivotally supported on support bar 66 by a pair'of bearing blocks 122'-(FIG. ,4), A downwardly depending link 124 is fixed to the opposite end of shaft 120. A link 126 is connected at one end to the lower end of link 124 as at 128. As shown in FIG. 1 the opposite end of link 126 connected to the upper end of a link 130, the lower end of which is fixedly pivoted on the machine frame as at 132. A cam follower 134 is mounted on link 130 and is adapted to engage the periphery of a cam 136 fixed to the shaft 138. Means (not illustrated) are pro- ,yided on the'machine for actuating cylinders 24, 90, 78

and rotating shaft 138 in timed relation to each other.

On the outlet side of trim mechanism 50 there is arranged a pair of grid stacking rails 140 adjustable supported on the frame of the machine by suitable bracket structure 142. A stacker plate 144 is mounted on a pair of arms 146 pivotally supported on the machine as at 148. Stacker plate 144 is adapted to be swung from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in broken lines and designated 1440 by a pair of interconnectedlinks 150, 152. Link 152 is adapted to be pivoted by means of a cam follower thereon engaging an additional cam on shaft 138 which is not illustrated. v,

In operation cylinder is first actuated to retract piston rod 94 and thus swing the transfer mechanism to a position wherein pallet 56 is disposed in the position designated 56b in FIG. 1. In this position the piston rod of cylinder 78 is retracted and pallet 56 is thus in the retracted or lowered position. As cylinder 24 is actuated to swing movable mold section 16 to the broken line position16a, cylinder 78 is actuated to raise pallet 56 to the position shown at 56a in FIG. 1 where it is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane directly below and in close proximity to the lower horizontally disposed parting face 22 of mold section 16. Thereafter a cylinder 154 (FIG. 2) is energized to actuate a crank 156 and a linkage 158 to in turn actuate a set of knockout pins on the mold section 160. This causes the cast grid in mold'section 16a to be released therefrom and dropped while in a generally horizontally disposed position onto the horizontally disposed pallet 56 which is in the position designated 56a. Thereafter cylinder 78 is actuated to retract its piston rod and thus lower the pallet to the position shown in FIG. 1 as 56b. After the pallet is lowered cylinder 90 is energized to extend piston rod 94 and thereby swing the pallet upwardly and forwardly from the position shown at 56b in FIG. 1 to the solid line position where it is inclined forwardly and downwardly. As the pallet 56 moves to the latter position the grid thereon slides forwardly so that its leading edge engages stop bar 106 and thus becomes properly oriented relative to the grid trimming mechanism 50. It will be realized that when the grid transfer mechanism swings to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 1 cam follower 134 is shifted to the right from a position out of contact with cam 136 to a position where it contacts the periphery of cam 136. The timed rotation of cam 136 thereafter causes links 130, 126, 124 to be actuated and thereby rock shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. This causes push rod 114 to be shifted upwardly to rock links 110 clockwise about shaft 82 and thereby cause the stop bar 106 to be retracted downwardly. The grid on pallet 56 is thus released in its properly aligned position on the pallet so that it slides downwardly and forwardly between rolls 100, 102 and onto support 54 of the trimming mechanism 50. Thereafter the trim saws 52 are actuated to trim the grid, after which the grid is released and slides onto stacker plate 144. Linkage 150, 152 is then actuated to convey the grid upwardly on the curved portions of stacker rails and thereby stack the grids vertically on the stacker rails as shown in broken lines.

When it becomes necessary to cork or otherwise service the mold sections the transfer mechanism is actuated to the solid line position shown in FIG. 1 and pallet 56 is pivoted upwardly and forwardly to the broken line position designated 560. This enables ready access to the open mold.

I claim:

1. In a grid casting machine of the type including seperable mold sections, means for moving one of said mold sections forwardly to an open grid-ejecting position wherein the grid is disposed in a generally horizontal plane, said machine including a grid trimming mechanism disposed forwardly of said one mold section in open position, the combination comprising, support arm means pivotally supported on and projecting upwardly from a generally horizontal pivot on said machine, said pivot being disposed at a level below said grid trimming mechanism and said open mold section and being spaced rearwardly of said grid trimming mechanism, a grid transfer pallet supported on said support arm means, means for swinging said support arm means forwardly about the axis of said pivot from a position wherein the pallet is disposed vertically below the open mold section in a generally horizontal plane to receive a grid ejected from said one mold section to a position wherein the pallet is disposed adjacent and inclined downwardly toward said grid trimming mechanism, movable stop means for arresting forwardsliding movement of the grid on the downwardly inclined pallet to properly align the grid on the pallet relative to the grid trimming mechanism and means for retracting saidstop means to permit the grid to slide forwardly off the pallet and into the grid trimming mechanism when the pallet is disposed in said inclined position.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the grid trimming mechanism is disposed at a level below the open mold section and said support arm means have a vertically extensible portion on which said pallet is supported and means for shifting said extensible portion upwardly and downwardly on said support arm means to position the pallet closely adjacent the underside of said open mold section.

3. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said extensible portion comprises a slide guided for vertical movement on said support'arm means.

4. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said means for shifting the pallet vertically includes a piston cylinder assembly mounted on said support arm means to swing therewith.

5. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said stop means are movably mounted on said extensible portion of the support arm means.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said stop retracting means comprises a cam rotatable about a fixed axis on said machine, a cam follower engageable with said cam and linkage means interconnecting said cam follower and said stop means.

7. The combination called for in claim 6 wherein said linkage means comprises a plurality of pivotally connected links, all of the pivotal connections between said links being spaced radially from the pivot axis of said support arm means. v

8. The combination called for in claim 6 wherein a portion of said linkage means is mounted on and swingable with said support arm means.

9. The combination called for in claim 8 wherein said linkage means includes a link swingable about a fixed pivot on said machine, said cam follower being mounted on said last-mentioned link at a point spaced from said fixed pivot and being movable out of engagement with said cam when the pallet is swung rearwardly from said position adjacent the trimming mechanism to said position underlying the open mold section.

10. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said pallet is pivotally mounted on said support arm means adjacent the forward edge of the pallet, abutment means on said support arm means for retaining the pallet in a fixed position on the support arm means so that the pallet is generally horizontally disposed when positioned vertically below said open mold section and is downwardly and forwardly inclined when the pallet is positioned adjacent the trimming mechanism, said pallet being pivotable upwardly and forwardly from said fixed position.

11. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said support arm means are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal axis thereof when the pallet underlies the open mold section and are inclined upwardly and forwardly when the pallet is adjacent the trimming mechanism.

12. The combination called for in claim 11 including means operative when said support arm means are in said upwardly and rearwardly inclined position to raise the pallet to a position in close proximity to the underside of said open mold section so that a grid ejected from the open mold section is deposited by gravity onto the adjacently positioned pallet and then lower the pallet so that it clears the open mold section as the support ann means swing to said upwardly and forwardly inclined position.

* a: a: a: 

1. In a grid casting machine of the type including seperable mold sections, means for moving one of said mold sections forwardly to an open grid-ejecting position wherein the grid is disposed in a generally horizontal plane, said machine including a grid trimming mechanism disposed forwardly of said one mold section in open position, the combination comprising, support arm means pivotally supported on and projecting upwardly from a generally horizontal pivot on said machine, said pivot being disposed at a level below said grid trimming mechanism and said open mold section and being spaced rearwardly of said grid trimming mechanism, a grid transfer pallet supported on said support arm means, means for swinging said suppoRt arm means forwardly about the axis of said pivot from a position wherein the pallet is disposed vertically below the open mold section in a generally horizontal plane to receive a grid ejected from said one mold section to a position wherein the pallet is disposed adjacent and inclined downwardly toward said grid trimming mechanism, movable stop means for arresting forward sliding movement of the grid on the downwardly inclined pallet to properly align the grid on the pallet relative to the grid trimming mechanism and means for retracting said stop means to permit the grid to slide forwardly off the pallet and into the grid trimming mechanism when the pallet is disposed in said inclined position.
 2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the grid trimming mechanism is disposed at a level below the open mold section and said support arm means have a vertically extensible portion on which said pallet is supported and means for shifting said extensible portion upwardly and downwardly on said support arm means to position the pallet closely adjacent the underside of said open mold section.
 3. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said extensible portion comprises a slide guided for vertical movement on said support arm means.
 4. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said means for shifting the pallet vertically includes a piston cylinder assembly mounted on said support arm means to swing therewith.
 5. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said stop means are movably mounted on said extensible portion of the support arm means.
 6. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said stop retracting means comprises a cam rotatable about a fixed axis on said machine, a cam follower engageable with said cam and linkage means interconnecting said cam follower and said stop means.
 7. The combination called for in claim 6 wherein said linkage means comprises a plurality of pivotally connected links, all of the pivotal connections between said links being spaced radially from the pivot axis of said support arm means.
 8. The combination called for in claim 6 wherein a portion of said linkage means is mounted on and swingable with said support arm means.
 9. The combination called for in claim 8 wherein said linkage means includes a link swingable about a fixed pivot on said machine, said cam follower being mounted on said last-mentioned link at a point spaced from said fixed pivot and being movable out of engagement with said cam when the pallet is swung rearwardly from said position adjacent the trimming mechanism to said position underlying the open mold section.
 10. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said pallet is pivotally mounted on said support arm means adjacent the forward edge of the pallet, abutment means on said support arm means for retaining the pallet in a fixed position on the support arm means so that the pallet is generally horizontally disposed when positioned vertically below said open mold section and is downwardly and forwardly inclined when the pallet is positioned adjacent the trimming mechanism, said pallet being pivotable upwardly and forwardly from said fixed position.
 11. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said support arm means are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal axis thereof when the pallet underlies the open mold section and are inclined upwardly and forwardly when the pallet is adjacent the trimming mechanism.
 12. The combination called for in claim 11 including means operative when said support arm means are in said upwardly and rearwardly inclined position to raise the pallet to a position in close proximity to the underside of said open mold section so that a grid ejected from the open mold section is deposited by gravity onto the adjacently positioned pallet and then lower the pallet so that it clears the open mold section as the support arm means swing to said upwardly and forwardly inclined position. 